Structure characterization, physicochemical property and immunomodulatory activity on RAW264.7 cells of a novel triple-helix polysaccharide from Craterellus cornucopioides

In the study, a new triple-helix polysaccharide with favorable stability was purified from C. cornucopioides. Its structural characterization, stability and solution behavior were investigated by the GC–MS, periodate oxidation-smith degradation, FT-IR, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, methylation analysis, Scanning electron microscope, Congo-red, CD, TGA and DSC analysis. The results showed that Craterellus cornucopioide polysaccharide (CCP) possessed the molecular weight of 1.97 × 103 kDa, is mainly composed of mannose (48.73%), galactose (17.37%), glucose (15.97%) and xylose (17.93%), respectively. It was a heteroglycan with (1 → 3)‑linked‑β‑d‑Manp‑(1 → 6)‑linked α‑d‑Galp backbone distributed by (1 → 4)‑linked‑α‑d‑Xylp‑t‑α‑d‑Manp and t‑β‑d‑Glup units at O-6. The result of TGA and DSC assay indicated that CCP has a favorable thermal stability. MTT and Scanning electro microscopy (SEM) assay showed that CCP could significantly improve the proliferation activity and induce cells activation of RAW264.7 in a certain range of concentrations and period.